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On November 29, the Advisory Group (AG) of the NIBA held its annual meeting at the Union League Club, Chicago. This committee meets one afternoon each year to discuss ideas which are intended to help the NIBA grow and to remain effective and valuable to our members. This year’s meeting overwhelmingly confirmed the Association’s mission of education and recommended several initiatives to the Board of Directors, including new levels of communication between NIBA’s committees and its members. Rodney Dow, The Dow Corp. is the NIBA board member chairing this committee for the third year. Board members Melinda Schramm, Mike Burke,....

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December got its name from the Latin word decem, meaning ten, because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the Roman calendar which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month, and later were added to the beginning of the calendar as January and February…but December kept its name. In addition to Hanukkah, celebrated this year from Dec. 2 through Dec. 10 and Christmas, Dec. 25, December brings both National Egg Nog and National Fruitcake Month. The CME Group has completed its acquisition of NEX Group, PLC and its....

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The beginning of a new year is typically when Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) registered, National Futures Association (“NFA”) member firms are most focused on growing their book of business. While the launch of new marketing or trading campaigns is important, attention to shifting operational and regulatory issues is just as critical to running a successful brokerage and/or trading operation. For Futures Commission Merchants (“FCMs”), Introducing Brokers (“IBs”), Commodity Pool Operators (“CPOs”), and Commodity Trading Advisors (“CTAs”) the end of 2018 is the perfect time to take an account of company regulatory obligations. Based on experience with a diverse group....

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Planning is well under way for this spring’s annual NIBA NYC event. The date for the event has been set for April 10th and will be held at the prestigious New York Athletic Club in New York City. Registration is open for this event which tends to fill up quickly so be sure to take a minute and reserve your spot. This year’s planning committee is Mike Burke ([email protected]), Steve Petillo ([email protected]) and Melinda Schramm ([email protected]). Please feel free to reach out with suggestions on sessions topics or speakers. Register here for NIBA NYC Spring 2019...

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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Center for Risk Management Education and Research (CRMER) at Kansas State University will host AgCon2019, the 2nd annual agricultural commodity futures conference on April 11-12 in Overland Park, Kansas. The CFTC and CRMER will again jointly host the conference, which brings together federal, state, and local governments with agribusiness and academia to discuss a range of topics that are important to the agricultural community who depend on the futures markets. “We are excited to once again partner with K-State to discuss significant derivatives-markets issues affecting the agricultural community. AgCon2018 brought together stakeholders....

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Due to the significant growth of the virtual currency market, the NFA has proposed an interpretive notice to the CFTC invoking the “ten-day” provision and will make it effective 10 days after receipt of submission. The notice was put forth because of concerns that customers do not fully understand the nature, volatility, and substantial risk involved with trading virtual currencies. Therefore, NFA is implementing new disclosure requirements for NFA Members engaging in virtual currency products. For IBs and FCMs, an Investor Advisory: — Futures on Virtual Currencies Including Bitcoin an the CFTC Customer Advisory: Understand the Risk of Virtual Currency....

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New and evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, machine learning and robotic process automation are now an everyday reality. Similarly, use of the Cloud and third-party systems have grown dramatically as the technology has become more complex. Business practices are being rapidly transformed in all sectors—from expediting insurance claims, automating financial processes and revolutionizing search algorithms to heralding a paradigm shift in cyber security and military technology. These emerging technologies provide a host of new benefits, but also create a horde of new risks. In this conference, we’ll discuss the real impact that these technologies have on all....

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A new report from Tabb Group explores why more companies are using instruments like options on futures. From explosive growth in electronic trading to regulatory tailwinds incentivizing their use, options on futures present expanded opportunities in today’s financial markets. Read case studies on how options on futures enhance many hedging and trading strategies – and deliver more cost efficiencies than over-the counter alternatives. [Read Report]...

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When January and February were added to the Roman calendar and November became the eleventh month of the year, it retained its original Latin name novem meaning nine — I think I’ve got that right this month Rob! (See last month’s correction) November in the United States means Thanksgiving, National Apple Cider Day (18th) and Black Friday (23th). Most of us are also familiar with Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year. But Cyber Tuesday, organized and presented by DePaul University, Downtown Campus is a not-to-be missed event for NIBA members. Now in its 5th year, this....

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Four years ago, NIBA created an Advisory Group (AG). The AG includes participants from all areas of the derivatives industry –including among others, regulation, agriculture, marketing, legal, education and brokerage. The purpose of the group is to advise, suggest and create dialogue which will help the board of directors develop and implement programs which meet its mission to provide education, compliance information and revenue-generating ideas to our members. Rodney Dow, (The Dow Corp) is the NIBA board member who currently chairs the AG, which meets once each year. This year’s meeting is scheduled for November 28. The Advisory Group for....